Beaver Creek (Buttermilk Creek tributary) facts for kids

Beaver Creek is a small stream, also called a tributary, that flows into Buttermilk Creek. It is located in Lackawanna County and Wyoming County, in the state of Pennsylvania, United States.

This creek is about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) long. It flows through different areas like West Abington Township, Overfield Township, and Falls Township. The land area that drains into Beaver Creek, called its watershed, is about 9.81 square miles (25.4 km²). A well-known spot, Lake Winola, is also found within this watershed.

Where Beaver Creek Flows

Beaver Creek starts in a wetland area in West Abington Township, Lackawanna County. It first flows southwest for a short distance. Along the way, it gets water from a small, unnamed stream joining it from the right side.

The creek then goes through a lake before turning to flow northwest. A bit further downstream, another unnamed stream adds water from the right. Beaver Creek then turns southwest again, passing through more wetlands.

It then enters Overfield Township in Wyoming County. Here, the creek continues flowing southwest, moving through even more wetlands. It also receives water from another unnamed stream on its right. The creek generally keeps flowing southwest, following the border between Overfield Township and Falls Township. Two more unnamed streams join it from the right. Finally, it turns south for a short stretch before meeting Buttermilk Creek.

Beaver Creek meets Buttermilk Creek about 2.58 miles (4.15 km) before Buttermilk Creek reaches its own end.

Water Quality

Beaver Creek is considered a healthy stream. It is not listed as an "impaired waterbody." This means its water quality is good and meets environmental standards.

Land and Rocks Around the Creek

The land around the mouth of Beaver Creek is about 764 feet (233 m) above sea level. Where the creek begins, its source, the land is higher, between 1,160 and 1,180 feet (354 and 360 m) above sea level.

The ground and rock types near the lower parts of Beaver Creek are mostly alluvium. Alluvium is made of sand, silt, and clay left behind by flowing water. You can also find a type of soil called Wisconsinan Till in this area. Till is a mix of clay, sand, gravel, and boulders left by glaciers.

There are also smaller areas of Wisconsinan Outwash. This is material carried and deposited by meltwater from glaciers. You might also see small alluvial fans, which are fan-shaped deposits of sediment.

Further upstream, alluvium and Wisconsinan Till are common too. However, there are also patches of Wisconsinan Ice-Contact Stratified Drift. This is sediment deposited by glacial meltwater in contact with ice. Another type is Wisconsinan Bouldery Till, which has more large rocks. You can also find several areas of wetlands and peat bogs, which are spongy, wet lands with lots of decaying plant matter.

Beaver Creek's Watershed

The watershed of Beaver Creek covers an area of about 9.81 square miles (25.4 km²). A watershed is all the land where water drains into a particular river or stream. The mouth of the creek is located in the Ransom United States Geological Survey map area. However, its source is in the Factoryville map area.

There is a dam called the Winola Mill Pond Dam within the Beaver Creek watershed. This dam is built on one of the creek's smaller streams. Lake Winola itself is also located on a stream that flows into Beaver Creek.

History of Beaver Creek

Beaver Creek was officially added to the Geographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. This system keeps track of names and locations of physical features in the United States. Its special identification number in the system is 1198387.

A concrete bridge was built over Beaver Creek in 1924. This bridge is 41.0 feet (12.5 m) long. It is located in Falls Township, Wyoming County, and helps people cross the creek safely.